I attended Ai in 2006 for Media Arts & Animation. Worst Mistake ever. I didn't know it at the time but It is part of a chain of "Art Institutes" For-profit scam schools. \r
Their recruiters used the same lies that the GAO found with

3

miked1092716610
August 09, 20126The New England Institute Of Art

★★★★★

I attended Ai in 2006 for Media Arts & Animation. Worst Mistake ever. I didn't know it at the time but It is part of a chain of "Art Institutes" For-profit scam schools. \r
Their recruiters used the same lies that the GAO found with

This school is only popular because they use a guerilla style marketing campaigns to stick their ads everywhere and anywhere.\n\nGo on LinkedIn and look up the alumni from this school for the past 10 years and you'll get a very good idea about where these students end up working. It's mostly APPLE and Best Buy. The same dumb ass jobs you can get without a college degree.\n\nThis is a very greedy school who will cheat you out everything. The equipment is outdated, the studio hours have been CUT so students can't work on things at night. All the good teachers left to teach at Emerson and other schools because they realized the scam that this school runs.\n\nYou can read as many reviews as you want on this school and fact of the matter is that they're all true. This school puts students into MASSIVE 100k+ debt for the next 35-40 years of their life while not offering ANY type of job placement. Don't believe the BS they feed you. They print out job listings from Craigslist and disguise it as their own leads. \n\nI was fortunate to find a job that has NOTHING to do with my degree from this school and I still struggle with my loans that are $700 per month. I can't start a family or rent an apartment because all of my money goes to this school. Don't be a fool like me and the rest of us who listened to these people they they told us that this was a good school. It is NOT. You will be screwed just like the rest of us.

0

by Young Cocc at Citysearch
December 02, 20111The New England Institute Of Art

This school will put you in a $100,000k debt for 40 years

★☆☆☆☆

This school is only popular because they use a guerilla style marketing campaigns to stick their ads everywhere and anywhere.\n\nGo on LinkedIn and look up the alumni from this school for the past 10 years and you'll get a very good idea about where these students end up working. It's mostly APPLE and Best Buy. The same dumb ass jobs you can get without a college degree.\n\nThis is a very greedy school who will cheat you out everything. The equipment is outdated, the studio hours have been CUT so students can't work on things at night. All the good teachers left to teach at Emerson and other schools because they realized the scam that this school runs.\n\nYou can read as many reviews as you want on this school and fact of the matter is that they're all true. This school puts students into MASSIVE 100k+ debt for the next 35-40 years of their life while not offering ANY type of job placement. Don't believe the BS they feed you. They print out job listings from Craigslist and disguise it as their own leads. \n\nI was fortunate to find a job that has NOTHING to do with my degree from this school and I still struggle with my loans that are $700 per month. I can't start a family or rent an apartment because all of my money goes to this school. Don't be a fool like me and the rest of us who listened to these people they they told us that this was a good school. It is NOT. You will be screwed just like the rest of us.

I am going to start off by saying I am currently enrolled at NEiA for the bachelors of photography program. I am strongly considering changing to an associates degree so I can get as far away from that place as possible without it being a total waste. First off, this place is REALLY expensive, which I could come to terms with if I felt like I was getting what I was paying for. The first two or three semesters I did learn a lot, but only because I barely new anything on the subject, but after that the classes basically become 'sit down and talk about random crap time' vs actually learning how to use equipment, programs/software and hands on experience. On that note, when there is 'hands on learning' or class 'demonstrations' they are very VERY brief. For the most part class time is not utilized well and very few topics are gone over throughout the semester. Don't let the 'more advanced' class descriptions fool you, it is still basic information that could easily (and should be) covered in one single class instead of splitting it up. Also, there are NO options as to what direction you want to take. The school is very small and offers only basic classes. If you want to learn more about a specific avenue in the field you are sh*t out of luck. Pretty much everything I have learned so far I could have learned from the internet, for free. Online photoshop tutorials do a much better job at teaching than this school does. \nSecondly, recent developments on the administrative end has put into affect a new head of the school who is completely ignorant of the fact that this is supposed to be an art school. Murals painted on the walls by students were covered over, the best teachers in the department were fired because they had a different (much better) view for the program than the art institutes corporation (yes CORPORATION). The books are expensive and rarely used in most classes, and you can't buy used books from the bookstore, they have to be brand new. And on top of that, they are making plans to SHORTEN the semesters, class time (currently 3 hrs once a week), and getting rid of the more 'in depth' classes. All this place cares about is making as much money as possible by trapping students in a program where very few, if any, of the credits will transfer to a real college. And as for the general education classes, well lets just say my public high school and community college was much more challenging than NEiA. I have discussed these matters with many of my fellow students and 99% of them share my view of this school. I guess I could recommend this school for an associates degree if you have NO previous knowledge/training in the subject, but when you add all of this together the cons severely outweigh the pros and I wish I never attended this school.

1

by feelscheated at Citysearch
October 18, 20112The New England Institute Of Art

Feels Cheated

★★☆☆☆

I am going to start off by saying I am currently enrolled at NEiA for the bachelors of photography program. I am strongly considering changing to an associates degree so I can get as far away from that place as possible without it being a total waste. First off, this place is REALLY expensive, which I could come to terms with if I felt like I was getting what I was paying for. The first two or three semesters I did learn a lot, but only because I barely new anything on the subject, but after that the classes basically become 'sit down and talk about random crap time' vs actually learning how to use equipment, programs/software and hands on experience. On that note, when there is 'hands on learning' or class 'demonstrations' they are very VERY brief. For the most part class time is not utilized well and very few topics are gone over throughout the semester. Don't let the 'more advanced' class descriptions fool you, it is still basic information that could easily (and should be) covered in one single class instead of splitting it up. Also, there are NO options as to what direction you want to take. The school is very small and offers only basic classes. If you want to learn more about a specific avenue in the field you are sh*t out of luck. Pretty much everything I have learned so far I could have learned from the internet, for free. Online photoshop tutorials do a much better job at teaching than this school does. \nSecondly, recent developments on the administrative end has put into affect a new head of the school who is completely ignorant of the fact that this is supposed to be an art school. Murals painted on the walls by students were covered over, the best teachers in the department were fired because they had a different (much better) view for the program than the art institutes corporation (yes CORPORATION). The books are expensive and rarely used in most classes, and you can't buy used books from the bookstore, they have to be brand new. And on top of that, they are making plans to SHORTEN the semesters, class time (currently 3 hrs once a week), and getting rid of the more 'in depth' classes. All this place cares about is making as much money as possible by trapping students in a program where very few, if any, of the credits will transfer to a real college. And as for the general education classes, well lets just say my public high school and community college was much more challenging than NEiA. I have discussed these matters with many of my fellow students and 99% of them share my view of this school. I guess I could recommend this school for an associates degree if you have NO previous knowledge/training in the subject, but when you add all of this together the cons severely outweigh the pros and I wish I never attended this school.

Let me start by saying that I would never publicly write a negative review to make a school or any other place look bad if I did not feel so strongly about my experience. I am a graphic design major and I am sorry to admit that I honestly could not have chosen a worse college. I had nothing but problems after being accepted. First of all, the school ended up costing me significantly more money than what I had been introduced to while applying, and the financial aid department was less than helpful in any way. We were told that the financial aid that I was given was incorrect and was much less than what we had expected.\n\nI also would have liked to have been aware of the shuttle that I took everyday to and from school. Everyday, students would stand and wait at the bus stop for one shuttle to arrive every hour. The shuttle holds 10 students, which leaves those who were not able to fit on the bus to wait longer for a shuttle to bring them to the T stop. Both shuttles were rarely on time and sometimes didn't show up at all. I ended up bringing my car and paying $180 to park for the semester. I felt that this was necessary due to the lack of dependability from the shuttles, and because the school has a strict attendance policy. Whether you are in the hospital or get in a car accident before class, excused absences are not recognized at this school. \n\nI was also unaware of the 2 campus's. Each day I would walk back and forth between campuses for classes (about 10 minutes walking distance). The T was also an option, but either way you still end up walking. The school has little area for students to ""hang out"" or just sit down and relax. I often found myself wandering around waiting for classes to start, which came to be a problem as cold and winter approached. \n\nI experienced issues everywhere from entrance exams and registering for classes to hornets infesting my dorm room. During the first week of school, I accidentally left my key in my room and was charged $25 to get back inside.\n\nTo keep many very long stories short, after pushing through and completing my first semester and passing all of my classes, I transferred to another college in my area. Withdrawing from the school was another hassle all in itself, and once I was finally able to leave, I was scheduled to check out of my room at the convenience of the RA's, which just happened to be in between my two final exams. Once I had checked out and completed my exams I drove home and planned a new start at a new school. I requested my transcripts from NEIA and was rejected because they had no records of me taking the entrance exam. The entrance exam is what must be completed before even registering for classes. They asked if I would take it again and I explained that I had completed this, as well as the exit exam, which is required to leave the school. (The entrance exam must be taken before the exit exam). I have been at my new school for a semester and still have not received my transcripts from NEIA. I recently received a bill from the school including the costs of breaking the housing agreement, as well as 2 thousand dollars in damage fee's that I am completely unaware of to this day.\n\nAll in all, it was a learning experience for me. Sadly, it was not at all what I had hoped it would be and it is unfortunate that I regret to say one nice thing about the college. My roommate as well as several other students in my building agreed that this school was not at all what they had hoped, and 2 others on my floor had been so miserable that they chose to withdraw before the semester even ended. If I had to say something positive about the experience, it would be that many of the professors are pleasant and very creative minded people. However, this was not at all enough to convince me to stay, and I'm reluctant in giving the school even 1 star. I would not at all recommend The New England Institute of Art.

0

by ashcee at Citysearch
February 14, 20111The New England Institute Of Art

Horrible experience.

★☆☆☆☆

Let me start by saying that I would never publicly write a negative review to make a school or any other place look bad if I did not feel so strongly about my experience. I am a graphic design major and I am sorry to admit that I honestly could not have chosen a worse college. I had nothing but problems after being accepted. First of all, the school ended up costing me significantly more money than what I had been introduced to while applying, and the financial aid department was less than helpful in any way. We were told that the financial aid that I was given was incorrect and was much less than what we had expected.\n\nI also would have liked to have been aware of the shuttle that I took everyday to and from school. Everyday, students would stand and wait at the bus stop for one shuttle to arrive every hour. The shuttle holds 10 students, which leaves those who were not able to fit on the bus to wait longer for a shuttle to bring them to the T stop. Both shuttles were rarely on time and sometimes didn't show up at all. I ended up bringing my car and paying $180 to park for the semester. I felt that this was necessary due to the lack of dependability from the shuttles, and because the school has a strict attendance policy. Whether you are in the hospital or get in a car accident before class, excused absences are not recognized at this school. \n\nI was also unaware of the 2 campus's. Each day I would walk back and forth between campuses for classes (about 10 minutes walking distance). The T was also an option, but either way you still end up walking. The school has little area for students to ""hang out"" or just sit down and relax. I often found myself wandering around waiting for classes to start, which came to be a problem as cold and winter approached. \n\nI experienced issues everywhere from entrance exams and registering for classes to hornets infesting my dorm room. During the first week of school, I accidentally left my key in my room and was charged $25 to get back inside.\n\nTo keep many very long stories short, after pushing through and completing my first semester and passing all of my classes, I transferred to another college in my area. Withdrawing from the school was another hassle all in itself, and once I was finally able to leave, I was scheduled to check out of my room at the convenience of the RA's, which just happened to be in between my two final exams. Once I had checked out and completed my exams I drove home and planned a new start at a new school. I requested my transcripts from NEIA and was rejected because they had no records of me taking the entrance exam. The entrance exam is what must be completed before even registering for classes. They asked if I would take it again and I explained that I had completed this, as well as the exit exam, which is required to leave the school. (The entrance exam must be taken before the exit exam). I have been at my new school for a semester and still have not received my transcripts from NEIA. I recently received a bill from the school including the costs of breaking the housing agreement, as well as 2 thousand dollars in damage fee's that I am completely unaware of to this day.\n\nAll in all, it was a learning experience for me. Sadly, it was not at all what I had hoped it would be and it is unfortunate that I regret to say one nice thing about the college. My roommate as well as several other students in my building agreed that this school was not at all what they had hoped, and 2 others on my floor had been so miserable that they chose to withdraw before the semester even ended. If I had to say something positive about the experience, it would be that many of the professors are pleasant and very creative minded people. However, this was not at all enough to convince me to stay, and I'm reluctant in giving the school even 1 star. I would not at all recommend The New England Institute of Art.

I've been at Ai for quite some time and I can tell you what works and what does not.\n\nPROS to AiNE\n\n- Most of the teachers are phenomenal at what they do.\n- The faculty is fairly responsive and available for all students\n- AiNE skips the 'theory' bs that Emerson puts students through and forces their students to utilize hardware and on-site studios. This is a huge plus where AiNE is more like a trade school that skips the useless bs that fills up the book and goes directly into production.\n\n--\n\nCONS to AiNE\n\n- The school is run by 'untraceable' people who view the school as 'FOR profit'\n- AiNE is far too expensive for little that they offer. The technology department at Ai is run by the dinosaurs. The PC lab is pathetic with dirty looking computers and overused keyboards. \n- There is barely any 'unity' between the majors. The school is packed with self absorbed artist who are all out to compete with their fellow student even at times when they are working together. \n- Your financial aid supervisor will change every 2 semesters. The school goes through tons of new employees that quit quite often, quite early.\n- The people who 'sell' the school to new students recite a crappy schpeal full of lies about the school and strictly avoid having the parents and potential new students speak with any of the students on campus. They are pretty much like used car sales persons who have little soul and little understanding what each major at the school entails. \n- Some of the teachers are failed hacks who abuse their position by making the students do their post-production & production work while they stamp the main credit to their own name. This allows the teachers to utilize cheap labor from some of the great new minds at work. Watch who favors you!! Its usually for the wrong reason.\n\nIn short, this school is not worth the money! Seriously, be smart and don't let this school get you into debt that will ruin your life post-college. Most AiNE graduates don't work jobs in the field they have majored in and this is not an exaggeration, its a sad fact. Go to a community college for the first two years and then maybe transfer to AiNE if you don't have any other alternatives.

0

by fatanight at Citysearch
November 13, 20101The New England Institute Of Art

Too expensive, be warned!

★☆☆☆☆

I've been at Ai for quite some time and I can tell you what works and what does not.\n\nPROS to AiNE\n\n- Most of the teachers are phenomenal at what they do.\n- The faculty is fairly responsive and available for all students\n- AiNE skips the 'theory' bs that Emerson puts students through and forces their students to utilize hardware and on-site studios. This is a huge plus where AiNE is more like a trade school that skips the useless bs that fills up the book and goes directly into production.\n\n--\n\nCONS to AiNE\n\n- The school is run by 'untraceable' people who view the school as 'FOR profit'\n- AiNE is far too expensive for little that they offer. The technology department at Ai is run by the dinosaurs. The PC lab is pathetic with dirty looking computers and overused keyboards. \n- There is barely any 'unity' between the majors. The school is packed with self absorbed artist who are all out to compete with their fellow student even at times when they are working together. \n- Your financial aid supervisor will change every 2 semesters. The school goes through tons of new employees that quit quite often, quite early.\n- The people who 'sell' the school to new students recite a crappy schpeal full of lies about the school and strictly avoid having the parents and potential new students speak with any of the students on campus. They are pretty much like used car sales persons who have little soul and little understanding what each major at the school entails. \n- Some of the teachers are failed hacks who abuse their position by making the students do their post-production & production work while they stamp the main credit to their own name. This allows the teachers to utilize cheap labor from some of the great new minds at work. Watch who favors you!! Its usually for the wrong reason.\n\nIn short, this school is not worth the money! Seriously, be smart and don't let this school get you into debt that will ruin your life post-college. Most AiNE graduates don't work jobs in the field they have majored in and this is not an exaggeration, its a sad fact. Go to a community college for the first two years and then maybe transfer to AiNE if you don't have any other alternatives.

Now before I start, yes I did get a job right out of college in the worst economy and yes I am working in my field of study audio. I build radios and run operations for an audio electronics company. I love my job.\n\nNow I feel for those who feel they were ripped off and I think if we took a survey of when students graduated 2005-2009 you would see a large array of disgust for this school getting closer to the economic recession. The reason is because that anyone who graduated from this school after August 2008 and went on their own dime cannot consolidate private loans. I feel that financial aid lied to me and said that they would make my payments affordable and consolidate my loans. For all those who graduated after the recession hit, you did get shafted but it was bad timing. Sallie Mae is to blame for this.\n\nI took the 4 year program in audio and media technology and I promise you that it was NOT EASY. This school is very challenging and if you don't put in an honest effort or do not actually enjoy the field you're in you will feel ripped off and hate this school very much. You will be working deep into the night and early morning getting your projects done, and you will have to take all general studies AND DO WELL IN THEM. A C- IN THIS SCHOOL WILL NOT CUT IT!\n\nTHere is a lot of bad sentiment about this school and the only bad I can agree on is the price tag, but you will be taught by the big wigs of your industry, make great contacts and forced to do real work in your field in order to graduate. Career services is always willing to help and you can always come back to use the equipment and facilities as an alumni.\n\nThis school teaches you that just having a degree is not enough. They sat me down on day one and said you are going into a very very hard trade, back out now if you don't think you have what it takes because you will be taking these loans to your grave and wasting your life and money if you don't. YOu must work hard and the only one who can do it is you, not your teachers.

2

by necco at Citysearch
November 03, 20104The New England Institute Of Art

Too expensive but you will learn a vast amount

★★★★☆

Now before I start, yes I did get a job right out of college in the worst economy and yes I am working in my field of study audio. I build radios and run operations for an audio electronics company. I love my job.\n\nNow I feel for those who feel they were ripped off and I think if we took a survey of when students graduated 2005-2009 you would see a large array of disgust for this school getting closer to the economic recession. The reason is because that anyone who graduated from this school after August 2008 and went on their own dime cannot consolidate private loans. I feel that financial aid lied to me and said that they would make my payments affordable and consolidate my loans. For all those who graduated after the recession hit, you did get shafted but it was bad timing. Sallie Mae is to blame for this.\n\nI took the 4 year program in audio and media technology and I promise you that it was NOT EASY. This school is very challenging and if you don't put in an honest effort or do not actually enjoy the field you're in you will feel ripped off and hate this school very much. You will be working deep into the night and early morning getting your projects done, and you will have to take all general studies AND DO WELL IN THEM. A C- IN THIS SCHOOL WILL NOT CUT IT!\n\nTHere is a lot of bad sentiment about this school and the only bad I can agree on is the price tag, but you will be taught by the big wigs of your industry, make great contacts and forced to do real work in your field in order to graduate. Career services is always willing to help and you can always come back to use the equipment and facilities as an alumni.\n\nThis school teaches you that just having a degree is not enough. They sat me down on day one and said you are going into a very very hard trade, back out now if you don't think you have what it takes because you will be taking these loans to your grave and wasting your life and money if you don't. YOu must work hard and the only one who can do it is you, not your teachers.

Wow, that review couldn't be more rude and untrue than it already is. I attend the school and take offense as I have learned and developed wonderful skills at the school. The professors are working professionals in their field--many are fabulous writers and artists/designers, who find inspiration in teaching their passion. They share many of their personal styles and techniques with the students inturn, creating a very artistic atmosphere of creative expression. The student body has been very helpful and the staff is not lazy the way 'MistahSomebody' has stated. Perhaps she had a horrible time as she entered due to her prior judgemental outlook ,""The place seemed fishy to begin with when I first visited, but hey, I figured, why not just go? "" --- MistahSomebody, your thoughts create your world.

2

by NE123 at Citysearch
March 15, 20104The New England Institute Of Art

MistahSomebody is not entirely there...

★★★★☆

Wow, that review couldn't be more rude and untrue than it already is. I attend the school and take offense as I have learned and developed wonderful skills at the school. The professors are working professionals in their field--many are fabulous writers and artists/designers, who find inspiration in teaching their passion. They share many of their personal styles and techniques with the students inturn, creating a very artistic atmosphere of creative expression. The student body has been very helpful and the staff is not lazy the way 'MistahSomebody' has stated. Perhaps she had a horrible time as she entered due to her prior judgemental outlook ,""The place seemed fishy to begin with when I first visited, but hey, I figured, why not just go? "" --- MistahSomebody, your thoughts create your world.

The New England Institute of Art is the WORST college in the Boston area, bar none. The place seemed fishy to begin with when I first visited, but hey, I figured, why not just go? I never will dive into something without thoroughly researching it ever again.\r\n\r\nThe school, at least to get a bachelor's for film, which was what I was doing, is, first off, grotesquely overpriced: almost 140k! Boston University costs about that much, as do Harvard and MIT. If Ai was giving you an education at that level, sure, it would be worth every penny.\r\n\r\nSadly, however, Ai's educational standards are likely less than that of Massasoit. It is THE biggest rip off I have ever encountered! The massive amount of problems:\r\n1. The equipment is mostly not very good. For film, it's all standard definition, mostly prosumer Mini DV cameras. Nothing HD or 16mm in sight. In other words, if you save a bit of money you can buy most of the cameras that you rent there. Furthermore, the equipment is always broken at any given time. Most insultingly, the Studio OPS people leave it up to the students to tell them what's broken and file ""service request forms"" instead of checking it all constantly themselves.\r\n2. The student body are the biggest bunch of substance abusers and burn outs I've ever met. The school seems to attract very gullible and weak willed people.\r\n3. All of the information in all of the classes I took can be learned by browsing Wikipedia for free! Well, except for the lecture one teacher gave about how farmers in the Middle Ages would reproduce with their female livestock and produce deformed babies once in a while.\r\n4. The housing (on Comm Ave) is the biggest nightmare of all. Filthy, awful soundproofing, impossible to concentrate in and filled with narcotics, booze and angst.\r\n\r\nFilm school is mostly a ripoff anyways, the only advantages are that it can help you get your foot in the door and get your hands on good equipment. Ai delivers neither. Don't waste 140K!

0

by MistahSomebody at Citysearch
December 13, 20081The New England Institute Of Art

The worst art school in the Boston area.

★☆☆☆☆

The New England Institute of Art is the WORST college in the Boston area, bar none. The place seemed fishy to begin with when I first visited, but hey, I figured, why not just go? I never will dive into something without thoroughly researching it ever again.\r\n\r\nThe school, at least to get a bachelor's for film, which was what I was doing, is, first off, grotesquely overpriced: almost 140k! Boston University costs about that much, as do Harvard and MIT. If Ai was giving you an education at that level, sure, it would be worth every penny.\r\n\r\nSadly, however, Ai's educational standards are likely less than that of Massasoit. It is THE biggest rip off I have ever encountered! The massive amount of problems:\r\n1. The equipment is mostly not very good. For film, it's all standard definition, mostly prosumer Mini DV cameras. Nothing HD or 16mm in sight. In other words, if you save a bit of money you can buy most of the cameras that you rent there. Furthermore, the equipment is always broken at any given time. Most insultingly, the Studio OPS people leave it up to the students to tell them what's broken and file ""service request forms"" instead of checking it all constantly themselves.\r\n2. The student body are the biggest bunch of substance abusers and burn outs I've ever met. The school seems to attract very gullible and weak willed people.\r\n3. All of the information in all of the classes I took can be learned by browsing Wikipedia for free! Well, except for the lecture one teacher gave about how farmers in the Middle Ages would reproduce with their female livestock and produce deformed babies once in a while.\r\n4. The housing (on Comm Ave) is the biggest nightmare of all. Filthy, awful soundproofing, impossible to concentrate in and filled with narcotics, booze and angst.\r\n\r\nFilm school is mostly a ripoff anyways, the only advantages are that it can help you get your foot in the door and get your hands on good equipment. Ai delivers neither. Don't waste 140K!